Latest test builds of 10.5.6 suggest update just about ready

Last week, Apple released two test builds of the latest update to Leopard. The …

Apple has been releasing updates to Leopard quite frequently as of late, with the latest being released for testing near the end of October. The latest two test builds of Mac OS X 10.5.6, 9G35 and 9G38, came just days apart last week. The rapid release of the builds, along with the fact that seed notes for build 9G38 lists "None" under Known Issues, are indicators that the release is coming soon.

The latest build claims to clear up several issues relating to syncing, including problems with MobileMe and setting periodic syncing. Issues with display detection over DVI, the Superdrive ejection sound, and printing PDFs from Mail were also addressed, and the complete list of fixes now totals 97. Apple is still asking developers to keep an eye on MobileMe syncing issues, using Time Machine on an AFP volume, and using non-Latin character sets in Mail.app.

Apple released the 10.5.5 update on September 15, one week after a test build was listed with no known issues. If the pattern holds, it's possible a 10.5.6 update could pop up in Software Update as early as this Friday. Though the signs point to a release soon, but in the interest of the safety of our readers, I do not recommend holding your breath.